Switch



April 16, 1929. G, RAFT 1,709,206

SWITCH Filed Jan. 18, 1927 2 Sheets-$heet l Invenfnr JAMES ,Gzonaz CRAFT Wm Q Ins Afforfley J. G. CRAFT April 16, 1929.

SWITCH Filed Jan. 1.8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES GEORGE CRAFT, 0F NEEDLES, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

SWITCH.

Application filed January 18, 1927, Serial No. 161,834, and in Canada November 29, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in a switch appertaining more particularly to a track switch fortoy or miniature railroads and the mechanism for actuating the same.

An object is to provide an electrically thrown switch wherein an armature piece connected with the track switch tonguereciprocates to either side, between a pair of fixed spaced solenoids which are selectively energized from a suitable source by a two point contact switch in the electric circuit.

A further object is to provide a connection between the reciprocating armature and the V'-track switch tonguethat will positively and more rapidly bring the desired arm of the V into contact with its fixed rail to set the switch for the desired direction of travel of the train either on the main line or out the branch.

A still further object is to provide an improved railroad track switch as described characterized by structural simplicity, ease and efliciency of operation and low cost of production, which is thereby rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects my invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be most clearly described when reference is had to the drawings, forming a part of this disclosure, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views. 7 In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of my device; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section thereof, the wiring being diagrammatical.

The straight or mail line track is designated 3 and the curved turn-out or branch line 4. The switch tongue designated 5 comprises a straight and curved track section 6 and 7 respectively arranged in a V with the apex 8 slightly open. These switch track sections are rigidly connected to each other adjacent the apex by a base plate 9 underlying the rails and pivoting as at 10 on the tie 11.

The free ends of the rails forming the arms of this V-shaped switch tongue are tapered on the outside to fit snugly against or seat into the adjacent and respective rail with which each is designed to operatively contact. The manner of mounting and throwing the free end of the switch is hereafter described in detail.

A base or ground plate 12 is laid under the track and in transverse relation thereto at a point immediately adjacent the termination of the free end of the switch track rails 6 and 7. 'A pair of spaced solenoids 1 1 are anchored, one on each side of the track, to the upstanding terminally bent ends 15 of the base 12 by a screw 16 or similar expedient. The cores 17 of these spaced solenoids are aligned and reciprocating between them on and in frictional engagement with the base 12 is a slide bar 18 that is held in position and against vertical or lateral displacement by the offset legs 19 of which two are shown on each side, formed integral with the base.

The ends 20 of the bar 18, that assumes the relation of an armature, are bent vertical to oppose the spaced aligned solenoid cores 17; obviously this bar 18 fails to extend completely from armature core to armature core, the space required to complete the span referred to, corresponding with the desired ,throw of the switch as shall presently appear.

Pivoted centrally of its ends as at 21 to the slide bar 18 is a fiat horizontal key 22 with upturned ends 23 that engage the insides of the track sections 6 and 7 at their free ends, being spread therebetween and having a. constant though loose frictional engagement therewith.

As the solenoids 14 are connected, in an electric circuit 24, illustrated in diagram, with a selective two point switch 25 of conventional design, it will be apparent that the solenoids may be selectively energized at pleasure. It will thus be seen that the operator, to throw the switch to one side or the other, to direct the train travelling on the track in the desired direction has only to move the electric contact point switch 25 in therequired manner to energize the proper solenoid thus attracting the slide bar 18 that, in moving longitudinally, of the base when reciprocating in either direction, through the medium of the pivoted center key 22, throws the track switch 5.

' the said accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A railway'track switch comprising a section of straight track and a section of curved track arranged in a V and pivoted adjacent the apex thereof, a base disposed transversely of the railway track at a point adjacent the free ends of said V having vertically bent ends, a pair of spaced aligned solenoids fastened one to each of said ends and an armature piece associated with said switch and adapted to reciprocate at said base between said solenoids.

2. A railway track switch comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigid V composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted adjacent its apex, a transversely disposed base underlying the railway track at a point immediately adjacent the free ends of said switch track sections, a slide bar on said base and a key associated therewith having upturned ends with loose frictional engagement with said track sections of said switch. a

3. A railway track switch comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigid V composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted adjacent its apex, a transversely disposed base underlying the railway track at a point immediately adjacent the free ends of said switch track sections, a slide bar on said base and a key associatedtherewith having a frictional engagement with said track sections of said switch to compensate for the conversion of reciprocating motion of the slide bar into the rotary motion of the pivoted switch.

4c. A railway track switchv comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigid V composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted near its apex, a transversely disposed base underlying the railwaytrack at a point immediately adjacent the free ends of said switch track sections, a slide bar super-posing said base adapted to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, means to prevent the vertical or lateral displacement thereof and a key associated therewith having engagement with said switch. V

5. A railway track switch comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigid V composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted near its apex, a-transversely disposed base underlying the railway track'at a point immediately adjacentthe free ends of said switch track sections, a slide bar superposing' said base adapted to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, means to prevent the vertical or lateral displacement thereof and a key pivoted centrally to said slide bar having a loose frictional engagement with said switch and adapted to transform reciprocations of said slide bar into rotary movement of said pivoted V-shaped switch. i

6. A railway track switch comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigidV composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted near its apex, a transversely disposed base underlying the railway track at a point immediately adja- 7 cent the free ends of said switch track sections, a pair'of aligned insulated solenoids located one on each end of said base, aslide bar superposing said base adaptedto reciprocate longitudinallythereof between said solenoidsand a key centrally pivoted to said slide bar having a loose frictional engagement with said switch track sections, being spread between the inside of such track sections at their free ends.

7. A railway track switch comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigid V composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted near its apex, a transversely disposed base underlying the railway track at a point immediately adjacent the free ends of said switch track sections, a pair of aligned insulated solenoids located one on each end of said base, a slide bar 'superposing said base adapted to reciprocate longitudinally thereof having upturned ends designed to oppose said solenoids, lugs upstruck from said base engaging said slide bar and adapted'to prevent vertical or lateral displacement thereof, and a key centrally pivoted to said slidebar having a loose fri'ctional engagement with said switch track sections, being spread between the insides of such track sections at their freeends. i r I 8. A railway track switch comprising a switch tongue formed as a rigid V composed of a section of straight track and a section of curved track and pivoted near its apex, a transversely disposed base underlying the railway track at a point immediately adjacent the free ends of said switch track sections, a pair of aligned insulated solenoids located one on each end of said base, a slide bar superposing .said'base adapted to reciprocate longitudinally thereof, having upturned ends designed to oppose said solenoids, lugs upstruck from said base engaging said slide bar and adapted to prevent vertical or lateral displacement thereof an a key comprising a flat horizontal piece with upturned ends forming a shollow U pivoted centrally of said ends of said slide bar, said upturned ends loosely engaging the inside of said switch track sections near their free ends whereby the reciprocation of said slide bar may be transformed into relative rotary movement of said pivoted V-shaped switch tongue.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

J AMES GEORGE CRAFT. 

